St. Xenia Parish News 170 North Lowell Street, Methuen, MA 01844 November - December 2018
Metropolitan ONUPHRY: Man’s Main Task Is To Rule Not The World But His Own Heart Belaya Tserkov, October 29, 2018
is Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of He also noted that few are those who strive to live Kiev and All Ukraine, the primate of the according to God’s Word, and thus few are those H Ukrainian Orthodox Church, offered a who bring forth good fruits. Such are atheists and word on the parable of the sower (Mt. 13:3-23) in those who do not renounce God but constantly his Sunday homily given at St. Mary Magdalene complain and accuse Him of injustice. Monastery in the city of Belaya Tserkov (White “We must not say that we deserve a better fate, Church) in which he emphasized that man’s main because we thereby blaspheme God, we insult task in life is to “work on his spiritual develop- God. We must always thank Him and say, ‘Lord, I ment.” know that I have received more than I deserve, The Ukrainian primate also added that it is prayer, because I am worthy of nothing.’ When God sees fasting, and living according to the Divine com- such humility, then … He sends man everything mandments that help a man attain spiritual perfec- he needs for life,” the Ukrainian archpastor ex- tion, “in cleansing the heart of sin and cruelty,” plained. reports the site of the Ukrainian Orthodox This also includes those who believe in God but Church. not trust Him with their lives and constantly put “Some say that the greatest work is to be a politi- off correcting their lives: “These people accept the cian, to direct the world to the right and to the Word of God when they are praised for it, but left. Some say that the greatest work is to be a when their faith is not praised, but persecuted, king and rule over people. But the greatest work is then they fall away.” to learn to rule over yourself, to control your pas- Met. Onuphry concluded by offering advice to sions and vices, and your own heart,” Met. those who find themselves relating to such people Onuphry emphasized. with hearts of stone, advising “not to despair, but “To purify the heart, one must entrust his life to to work on yourselves.” God, that is, to build it on the principles of Holy “We must read the Holy Gospel, read our prayers, Scripture. Perhaps it will be unfashionable. Per- and begin to build our lives on the basis of Divine haps someone will call us cowardly, weak—do not Law. Then, gradually, this hardness of soul will pay attention to that. We must build our lives on soften, the soul will be filled with kindness and the Divine commandments… Then a man will purity, and we will also bring forth salvific good bring forth good fruits,” His Beatitude exhorted. works,” His Beatitude affirmed.
St. Xenia of St. Petersburg Orthodox Church is a par- Parish Council ish of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Rus- President: V.Rev. Michael Crowley (978) 204-0428 sia, under the omophorion of Met. HILARION of Fr. Constantine Desrosiers (603) 775-0320 Eastern America & New York. The parish newsletter Dcn. Alexander Doohovskoy (978) 369-4486 is published bi-monthly under the direction of the Rev. Starosta: John Kekis (978) 456-9865 Michael Crowley. In order to ensure timely delivery Treasurer: Alexei Rodzianko (603) 275-8251 to our far-flung parish, please submit all notices by the 15th of the month prior to publication to Secretary: David Nettleton (203) 895-7636 Father Michael at [email protected]. Sisterhood: Pamela Ann Reed (978) 254-5043 Thank you. Cemetery: Natalie Pishenin (978) 761-3449 Choir: Laryssa Doohovskoy (978) 841-5960 Rector: School: Mat. Nancy Crowley (207) 232-6780 V. Rev. Michael Crowley 34 Elm Street Michael Dolan North Andover, MA 01845 Dimitri Nikshych (603) 659-0015 (978) 204-0428 Anthony Sarantakis (978) 263-2016 Dan Hakim (201) 543-4260 Confessions on Saturday during Vigil, on Sunday dur- ing the Hours, and by appointment.
Trapeza Schedule * = strict fast
Trapeza can be whatever you would like to prepare, anything is appreciated. Note: If you are preparing anything containing nuts or other allergens, please put a small label to that effect in front of your dish. Nut allergies are especially fatal to small children.
A note about Trapeza etiquette: Standing, even for short periods of time, is often extremely difficult for older people and expectant mothers. It would be an act of Christian charity to allow them to collect their meal first and to be seated. It should go without saying that this courtesy should also be extended to visiting clergy.
NOVEMBER DECEMBER
4 Matushka Helena, Marianne Dimatteo, *2 Olena Fedina, Ksenia Guryeva, Liliya Tanya Nikshych Afanasieva 11 Pam Reed, Carolyn Savage, Diane Mendez *9 Alexandra Gonzalez, Anna Kekis, Marina 18 Mary Doohovskoy, Fotini Dimatteo, Pavlova Sonya Carrascal *16 Nettleton/Chaplain/Bottos 25 Nancy Vaters, Brigid Amy Fischer, L&A *23 Matushka Nancy, JoJo Crowley Doohovskoy *30 Engalichev, Lynch, C&N Harris
PARISH NEWS St. John of Damascus Church School News Sunday School is now meeting regularly. Please Annual Parish Meeting contact Matushka Nancy if you have questions or Please be reminded, our annual Parish Meeting is go to: November 4. All are invited to attend. https://www.stxenia.org/churchschool.html
Congratulations …to Richie and Fotini Dimatteo on their marriage Choir News October 7 in Colorado! Many Years! The Children's Choir will be meeting on the fol- lowing dates: December 1, 15, 22, 29 and Janu- …to the Hakim Family on the baptism of their ary 5. The children will prepare portions of the twin boys Lucas Daniel and Matteo Charles on Liturgy for Nativity and work on learning the September 22! Also, to the Murphey family on the tones. This program is open to children ages 5 and baptism of their son Benjamin in November. We older. A registration form and more details will be ask God’s blessing and many years to all! forthcoming.
Please Remember in Your Prayers If you have a private service - wedding, baptism, Athanasia Tamvlakis, Peter Danas, Dimitri Nik- funeral, etc. – and would like to have choir sing- shych, Masha Harris, and Laryssa Doohovskoy. ers, please contact Laryssa at [email protected]. Also, please be sure to inform the Sisterhood if someone is in the hospital or shut in at home. Building Expansion Update
Father Michael and Constantine Engalichev con- Sisterhood News tinue to meet with prospective contractors to re- …Thank you to all who helped make our Fall Fes- view specs and generate quotes. tival such a success. We are very blessed to have this opportunity for the children (and adults!) of Our project has truly just begun and the fundrais- our Parish. ing will surely continue. To those who made pledges, we ask that you be mindful about sending …Our Parish is conducting a coat drive to collect in your monthly donations. coats and jackets for young students in need with- in the Methuen School District. The need is for Additional donations are always welcome. There elementary-aged children, grades k-6. are several ways you can contribute or pledge - envelopes and pledge forms are available at the As in the past, we will only be accepting new and candle counter. We also have a Paypal account on gently used (freshly washed) coats and jack- the St. Xenia website. ets. Accessories such as gloves, hats, etc. are not https://stxenia.org/buildingexpansion2018.htm needed as coats and jackets are the primary need l for the students. Waterproof winter jackets with hoods would be ideal. We thank you and ask for your continued prayers as we join together to move into this next im- Coats and jackets may be dropped off in the portant phase of our Parish. God willing, the church hall and will be collected every Sunday un- commitment today will have an immeasurable til November 18th. impact as we move to our next chapter.
Please contact Katia Reilly if any questions arise By the prayers of St. Xenia, may God continue to at [email protected]. bless our efforts in expanding our church building and hall!
DIOCESE NEWS The Holy Great Martyr Demetrios of Soluneia (Commemorated Oct 26/Nov 8) was the Saint Herman Youth Conference son of a Roman proconsul in Thessalonika (the With the blessing of Their Eminences Hilarion, present day Salonika, which in the Slavonic is Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, termed Solun', [anglicised as Soluneia]). Three cen- and Gabriel, Archbishop of Montreal & Canada, turies had then already elapsed, and Roman pagan- the annual Saint Herman Youth Conference will ism, -- spiritually shattered and defeated by the be hosted by Nativity of the Mother of God multitude of martyrs and confessors of the Cruci- Church in Albany, NY. The conference will fied Saviour, -- intensified its persecutions. Both commence on the evening of Sunday, December the father and mother of saint Demetrios were 23rd and conclude on the morning of Wednesday, clandestine Christians. In a secret house-church at December 26th. The conference is open to all the home of the proconsul, the child was baptised youth over the age of 16. All registrations will be and raised in the Christian faith. When the father managed online at the Conference website: died, and the child had reached the age of maturi-
ty, the emperor Galerius Maximian -- having as- http://sthermanconference.com/registration.html cended the throne in the year 305 -- summoned
him, and confident in his education and military- The cost of the conference is $300.00 per person administrative abilities, appointed him to the posi- and includes all lodging, meals, and transportation tion of his father as proconsul of the Thessalonika from the hotel to the church. The deadline for reg- district. The chief task expected of this young istration is November 30th, and after that date the commander consisted in the defense of the city cost will increase to $350.00 with no guarantee of from barbarians, and in the extermination of space remaining. Any youth who need a scholar- Christianity. It is interesting, that among the bar- ship may contact the conference at the e-mail barians threatening the Romans our ancestral Slavs listed on the website. All clergy are encouraged to occupied an important place, in particular by in- participate and bring a delegation from their par- tentionally settling upon the Thessalonikan penin- ish. sula. There exists even the opinion that the par- Support the Diocese through AmazonSmile ents of Saint Demetrios were of Slavic descent. In AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon regard to Christians the will of the emperor was with the same products, prices, and shopping fea- expressed simply: "Put to death anyone who calls tures as Amazon.com. The difference is that when on the name of the Crucified". The emperor did you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile not suspect in appointing Demetrios, how wide a Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price swath of confessors acts he had opened up for the of eligible products to the charitable organization clandestine ascetic. of your choice. Accepting the appointment, Demetrios re- turned to Thessalonika and in front of everyone The Eastern American Diocese can be selected as immediately confessed and glorified our Lord Je- the charitable organization of your choice, and all sus Christ. Instead of persecuting and executing proceeds from AmazonSmile are put in the dioce- Christians, he openly began to teach the inhabit- san Benevolent Fund. ants of the city the Christian faith and to extirpate pagan customs and idol-worship. The compiler of Please consider supporting the Eastern Ameri- his life, Metaphrastes, says that in his teaching zeal can Diocese! he became for Thessalonika "a second Apostle Paul", particularly since "the Apostle to the Gen- tiles" once founded at this city the first communi- ty of believers (1 Thes., 2 Thes.). The Lord also destined Saint Demetrios to follow the holy Apos- tle Paul to a death by martyrdom. When Maximian learned, that the procon- With the ring and other holy things sanctified by sul newly appointed by him -- was a Christian, and the blood of Saint Demetrios, Saint Luppos began that he had converted to Christianity many Ro- to heal the infirm. The emperor gave orders to ar- man subjects who were influenced by his example rest and kill him. -- the rage of the emperor know no bounds. Re- The body of the holy GreatMartyr Deme- turning from a campaign in the Black Sea region, trios was cast out for devouring by wild animals, the emperor decided to lead his army through but the Soluneia Christians took it and secretly Thessalonika, filled with the desire to make a mas- committed it to earth. During the reign of holy sacre of the Soluneia Christians. Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine (306-337), a Learning of this, Saint Demetrios oppor- church was erected over the grave of Saint Deme- tunely ordered his faithful servant Luppos to dis- trios. A hundred years later, during the construc- tribute his wealth to the poor with the words: tion of a majestic new church on the old spot, the "Give away the earthly riches amongst them, for incorrupt relics of the holy martyr were uncov- we shalt seek for ourselves heavenly riches". And ered. From the time of the VII Century beneathe he gave himself over to prayer and fasting, prepar- the crypt of the GreatMartyr Demetrios was ing himself for the accepting of a martyr's crown. found a miraculous flowing of fragrant myrh, in When the emperor came into the city, he regard to which the GreatMartyr Demetrios re- summoned Demetrios, who boldly confessed him- ceives the church title "Myrh-flowing". Several self a Christian and denounced the falsehood and times those venerating the Soluneia wonderwork- futility of Roman polytheism. Maximian gave or- er made attempts at a transfer of his holy relics, or ders to lock up the confessor in prison, and an part of them, to Constantinople. But invariably Angel came to him in confinement, comforting Saint Demetrios secretly made apparent his will to and encouraging him for the act. The emperor remain the protector and defender of the people of meanwhile concerned himself with a foul gladia- Thessalonika. tors spectacle, esteeming as his beloved champion Advancing towards the city, pagan Slavs a German by the name of Leo, who made a chal- were repeatedly turned by the apparition of a lenge for a Christian to struggle with him on the threatening radiant youth, going the round of the platform over the spears of the victorious soldiers. walls and inspiring terror in the enemy soldiers. It A brave youth from the Soluneia Christians, Nes- is therefore perhaps why the name of Saint Deme- tor by name, went to the prison to his advisor trios is particularly venerated among the Slavic Demetrios and requested to be given the blessing nations after their enlightenment by the light of for single-combat with the barbarian. With the the Gospel truth. On the other hand, Greeks re- blessing of Demetrios and through his prayers, gard Saint Demetrios in terms of being a Slavic Nestor prevailed over the fierce German and saint merely an arbitrary preference. hurled him from the dais-platform onto the spears The very first pages of the Russian Primary of the soldiers, just as the murderous pagan would Chronicle, as foreordained by God, is bound up have done with the Christian. The enraged com- with the name of the holy GreatMartyr Demetrios mander gave orders to immediately execute the of Soluneia. Oleg the Wise threatened the Greeks holy Martyr Nestor (Comm. 27 October) and dis- at Constantinople (907), as the Chronicle relates: patched a guard to the prison -- to run through "The Greeks became terrified and said: this is not with spears the one who had blessed this deed, Oleg, but rather Saint Demetrios sent upon us Saint Demetrios. from God". Russian soldiers always believed that At dawn on 26 October 306 soldiers ap- they were under the special protection of the holy peared in the underground prison of the holy saint GreatMartyr Demetrios. Moreover, in the old and ran him through with spears. His faithful Russian barracks the GreatMartyr Demetrios was servant, Saint Luppos, gathered up on a towel the always depicted as Russian by descent -- thus this bless of Saint Demetrios, and he took from his image fused with the soul of the Russian nation. finger the imperial ring, -- a symbol of his high Church veneration of the holy GreatMar- status, and likewise dipped it also in the blood. tyr Demetrios in Russia began with the time shortly after the Baptism of Rus'. Towards the be- with them I shalt be saved, if they perish -- I too ginning of the decade of the 70's of the XI Centu- perish with them". ry belongs the founding of the Dimitriev monas- In the spiritual experience of the Russian tery at Kiev, known afterwards as the Mikhailov- Church, veneration of the holy GreatMartyr De- Zlatoverkh monastery. The monastery was built metrios of Soluneia is closely bound up with the by the son of Yaroslav the Wise, -- GreatPrince memory of the defense the Native-Land and Izyaslav, baptised Dimitrii (+ 1078). The mosaic Church by the GreatPrince of Moscow, Dimitrii icon of Saint Demetrios of Soluneia from the ca- Donskoi (+ 1389). "An Account of the Life and thedral of the Dimitriev monastery has been pre- Repose Great Prince Dimitrii Ivanovich, Tsar of served up to the present day, and is located in the Russia", written in the year 1393, already regards State Tret'yakov gallery. In the years 1194-1197 the GreatPrince as a saint, as also do other old the GreatPrince of Vladimir, Vsevolod III Russian histories. GreatPrince Dimitrii was a spir- Bol'shoe Gnezdo (Great-Nest), -- baptised Dimi- itual son and pupil of the Sainted Metropolitan of trii, "built at his court a beautiful church of the Moscow Alexei (+ 1378, Comm. 12 February), holy martyr Dimitrii, and adorned it wondrously and a disciple and associating also with other great with icons and writing" (i.e. frescoes). The Dimi- figures of prayer in the Russian Land: -- the Monk triev cathedral also reveals for the present the em- Sergei Radonezh (+ 1392, Comm. 25 September, bellishment of ancient Vladimir. The wonder- Dimitrii of Prilutsk (+ 1392, Comm. 11 Febru- working icon of Saint Demetrios of Soluneia from ary), Sainted Theodore of Rostov (+ 1394, the cathedral iconostas is located even now in Comm. 28 November). GreatPrince Dimitrii Moscow, at the Tret'yakov gallery. It was written "about the churches of God he worried much, and upon a plank of wood from the grave of the holy the territory of the Russian land he held by his GreatMartyr Demetrios, brought in 1197 from bravery: many the enemy risen against us he con- Soluneia to Vladimir. One of the most precious quered, and his glorious city Moscow he protected depictions of the saint -- a fresco on a column of with wondrous walls". From the time of the build- the Vladimir Uspenie cathedral, is from the brush ing of the white-walled Kremlin (1366) by of the Sainted Iconographer Andrei Rublev. GreatPrince Dimitrii, Moscow was called "Belo- The veneration of Saint Demetrios contin- kamenna" ("White-Stoned"). "The land of Russia ued also in the family of Saint Alexander Nevsky prospered during the years of his reign", -- testifies (Comm. 23 November). Saint Alexander named the "Account". his eldest son in honour of the holy greatmartyr. By the prayers of his Heavenly patron the And his younger son, holy Nobleborn Prince holy warrior Demetrios of Soluneia, GreatPrince Daniel of Moscow (+ 1303, Comm. 4 March), Dimitrii gained besides his brilliant military victo- raised up at Moscow a temple in the name of the ries also the preordained further prominence of holy GreatMartyr Demetrios in the 1280's, which Russia: he repelled the onslaught against Russia by was the first stone church in the Moscow Kremlin. the Lithuanian armies of Ol'gerd (1368, 1373), he Later on in 1326, under Ivan Kalita, it was taken routed at the River Vozha the Tatar army of down and in its place was erected the Uspenie Begich (1378), and he smashed the military might (Dormition) cathedral. of all the Golden Horde at the Battle of Kulikovo The memory of Saint Demetrios of Solu- Pole (Kulikovo Field) (8 September 1380, on the neia from of old was bound up in Rus' with the day of celebration of the Nativity of the MostHo- military, patriotism and the defense of the Father- ly Mother of God), set between the Rivers Don land. The saint is depicted on icons in the guise of and Nepryadva. The Kulikovo Battle, for which a soldier in plumed armour, with a spear and the nation calls him Dimitrii Donskoi, became the sword in hand. On a scroll (in later depictions) is first all-Russian national deed, rallying round written also a prayer, with which Saint Demetrios Moscow the spiritual power of the Russian nation. turned to God about the salvation of the people of To this auspicious event of Russian history is ded- Soluneia: "Lord, let not the city nor the people icated the "Zadonschina", an inspiring historic po- perish. If Thou do save the city and the people -- em, written by the priest Sophronii of Ryazem 1684 he was summoned to the Kievo-Pechersk (1381). Lavra. The head of the Lavra, archimandrite Var- Prince Dimitrii Donskoi was greatly de- laam (Yasinsky), knowing the high spiritual dispo- voted to the holy GreatMartyr Demetrios. In sition of his former student, his education, his 1380, on the eve of the Kulikovo Battle, he sol- proclivity for scientific work, and also his un- emnly transferred from Vladimir to Moscow the doubted literary talent, -- entrusted to the Priest- most holy effect of the Vladimir Dimitriev cathe- monk Dimitrii the organising of the Chetii Minei dral -- the icon of the GreatMartyr Demetrios of (Lives of the Saints, Meneion) for the whole year. Soluneia, written on the plank from the grave of From this time, all the further life of Saint the saint. At the Moscow Uspenie Cathedral was Dimitrii was devoted to the fulfilling of this ascet- built a chapel in the name of the GreatMartyr ic work, grandiose in its scope. The work de- Demetrios. In memory of the soldiers, fallen in manded an enormous exertion of strength, since it the Kulikovo Battle, was established for all-church necessitated the gathering and analysing of a multi- remembrance the Demetrios Parental-Ancestors tude of various sources and to expound them in a Saturday. The first time this panikhida was held fluent language, worthy of the lofty subject of ex- was at the Trinity-Sergiev monastery on 20 Octo- position and at the same time accessible to all be- ber 1380 by the Monk Sergei, Hegumen of Ra- lievers. Divine assist did not abandon the saint donezh, in the presence of GreatPrince Dimitrii over the course of his twenty year labour. Accord- Donskoi. From that time it is served annually ing to the testimony of Saint Dimitrii himself, his with a solemn remembrance of the heroes of the soul was filled with impressions of the saints, Kulikovo Battle, in which number are the Schema- which strengthened him both in spirit and body, monks Alexander (Peresvet) and Andrei (Oslyab). and they encouraged faith in the felicitous comple- tion of his noble task. And at the same time as Sainted Dimitrii, Metropolitan of Ros- this, the Monk Dimitrii was head of several mon- tov (Commemorated Oct 28/Nov 10) (in the world asteries (in succession). Daniil Savvich Tuptalo), was born in December The works of the ascetic brought him to 1651 in the locale of Makarovo, not far from Kiev. the attention of Patriarch Adrian. In 1701, by He was born into a pious family a grew up a deep- ukaz-decree of tsar Peter I, Archimandrite Dimi- ly believing Christian. In 1662, soon after his par- trii was summoned to Moscow, where on 23 ents resettled to Kiev, Daniil was sent to the Ki- March at the Uspensky-Dormition cathedral of evo-Mogilyansk college, where the gifts and re- the Kremlin he was ordained Metropolitan to the markable abilities of the youth were first discov- Siberian cathedra-seat of the city of Tobol'sk. But ered. He successfully learned the Greek and Latin after a certain while, because of the importance of languages and the whole series of classical sciences. his scientific work and the frailty of his health, the On 9 July 1668 Daniil accepted monasticism with saint received a new appointment to Rostov- the name Dimitrii, in honour of the GreatMartyr Yaroslavl', whither on 1 March 1702 he arrived in Demetrios of Soluneia (Thessalonika). Prior to the the capacity of Metropolitan of Rostov. Spring of 1675 he progressed through the monastic Just as before, he continued to be con- obediences at the Kiev Kirillov monastery, where cerned about the strengthening of the unity of the he began his literary and preaching activity. The Russian Orthodox Church, weakened by the Old Chernigov archbishop Lazar (Baranovich) or- Ritualist schism. dained Dimitrii as priestmonk on 23 May 1675. In his inspired works and preachings many Over the course of several years Priestmonk Dimi- a generation of Russian theologians drew spiritual trii asceticised and preached the Word of God at strength for creativity and prayer. For all Ortho- various monasteries and churches in the Ukraine, dox Christians he remains an example of a saintly, Lithuania and Belorus. For a certain while he as ascetic, non-covetous life. At his death, 28 October hegumen of the Maksimovsk monastery,and later 1709, they found with him but few possessions, the Baturinsk Nikol'sk monastery, from where in except for books and manuscripts. The enumeration of Sainted Dimitrii, Met- world, about the Trinity, and about the Divine ropolitan of Rostov, to the ranks of the Saints was Logos. Through the Providence of God, after a made on 22 April 1757. Celebration to him is certain while there arrived in Heliopolis from Al- made likewise on 21 September, on the day of the exandria a priest in the guide of a merchant. He uncovering of relics. performed the sacrament of Baptism over Barbara. During this while at the house of Di- The Holy Great Martyress Barbara Com- oskoros a luxuriant bath was being built. By his memorated Dec 4/Dec 17) lived and suffered during orders the workers prepared to put into it two the reign of the emperor Maximian (305-311). Her windows on the south side. But Barbara, availing father, the pagan Dioskoros, was a rich and illus- herself of her father's absence, asked them to make trious man in the city of Phoenician Heliopolis; a third window, in the form of a Trinity of Light. early left a widower, he concentrated all his atten- Over the entrance of the bath-house Barbara pat- tion in tender devotion to his only daughter. See- terned a cross, which was durably set into stone. ing the extraordinary beauty of Barbara, Di- On the stone steps of the bath-house there later oskoros decided to raise her concealed from the remained the imprint of her feet, while within the eyes of strangers. For this he built a tower, where water-spring had dried up, appearing later on with besides Barbara, there were present only her pagan great healing power, -- all which Simeon Meta- teachers. From the tower heights there opened up phrastes in writing about the sufferings of the holy a view of God's world of hills stretching into the martyress, compares with the life-creating power distance. By day she was able to gaze upon the of the stream of Jordan and the Pool of Siloam. wooded hills, the swiftly flowing rivers, and on When Dioskoros returned and expressed dissatis- the meadows covered with a gayly mottled blan- faction about the change of his plan of construc- ket of flowers; by night the harmonious and ma- tion, his daughter told him about her knowledge jestic vault of the heavens twinkled and provided a of the Triune God, about the saving power of the spectacle of inexpressible beauty. Soon the maiden Son of God, and about the futility of worshipping began to ask herself questions about the Primal idols. Dioskoros went into a rage, grabbed a sword Cause and Creator of so harmonious and splendid and was on the point of striking her. The maiden a world. Gradually she became convinced of the fled from her father, and he rushed after her in idea, that the soul-less idols -- were but only the pursuit. His way became blocked by a hill, which work of human hands, and though her father and opened and concealed the saint in a crevice. On teachers offered them worship, the idols were not the other side of the crevice was an entrance up- sufficiently clever and august enough to have made wards. Saint Barbara managed then to conceal her- the surrounding world. The desire to know the self in a cave on the opposite slope of the hill. Af- True God so consumed the soul of Barbara, that ter a long and fruitless search for his daughter, Di- she decided to devote all her life to this and to oskoros saw two shepherds on the hill. One of spend her life in virginity. them pointed out the cave to him, where the saint But the fame of her beauty spread had hidden. Dioskoros beat his daughter terribly, throughout the city, and many sought for her and then locked her under watch and tried to wear hand in marriage. But despite the endearing en- her down with hunger. Finally he handed her over treaties of her father, she refused. Barbara cau- to the governor of the city, named Martianus. tioned her father, that his persistence might end They beat Saint Barbara fiercely: they struck at tragically and separate them forever. Dioskoros her with ox thongs, and ground into her wounds decided, that the temperament of his daughter had with a hair-shirt. By night the holy maiden prayed been affected by her life of seclusion. He therefore fervently to her Heavenly Bridegroom, and the permitted her to leave the tower and gave her full Saviour Himself appeared and healed her wounds. freedom in her choice of friends and acquaintanc- Then they subjected the saint to new, and even es. The maiden thus encountered in the city more cruel torments. youthful confessors of faith in Christ, and they Amidst the crowd standing near the place revealed to her teachings about the Creator of the of torture of the martyress was the Christian Juli- ania, an inhabitant of Heliopolis. Her heart was as bride by the heir to the throne, the future great- filled with sympathy for the voluntary martyr- prince Vasilii Ioannovich. Their marriage was un- dom of the beautiful and illustrious maiden. Juli- happy, because Solomonia remained childless. In ania likewise wanted to suffer for Christ. She be- order to have an heir, great-prince Vasilii Ioanno- gan loudly to denounce the torturers, and they vich decided to wed a second time (to Elena Glin- seized hold of her. For a long while they tortured sky) and on 25 November 1525 he ordered Solo- both holy martyresses: they lacerated and tore at monia to be tonsured a nun. Forcibly monasti- their bodies with hooks and then led them cised with the name Sophia, Solomonia was sent stripped through the city amidst derision and under guard to the Suzdal' Pokrov-Protection jeers. Through the prayers of Saint Barbara the convent, where by ascetic deeds she banished from Lord sent an Angel, which covered the bareness of her heart worldly thoughts, and totally dedicated the holy martyresses with splendid garb. The herself to God. Prince Kurbsky calls the blessed steadfast confessors of faith in Christ, Saints Bar- princess "a Nun Martyress". In the manuscripts of bara and Juliania, were then beheaded. Dioskoros the Saints she is termed as "the holy Righteous himself executed Saint Barbara. The wrath of God Princess Sophia the Monastic, for she did dwell at was not slow to punish both torturers, Martianus the Pokrov monastery convent, a wonderworker". and Dioskoros: they were struck down by bolts of Under tsar Feodor Ioannovich they esteemed her lightning. as a saint. Tsaritsa Irina Feodorovna sent to Su- In the VI Century the relics of the holy zdal', "to Great-Princess Solomonida, in other re- GreatMartyress Barbara were transferred to Con- gards Sophia, a velvet veil with depiction of the stantinople. In the XII Century the daughter of Saviour and other saints". Patriarch Joseph wrote the Byzantine emperor Alexis Comnenes, the to the Suzdal' archbishop Serapion about the sing- princess Barbara, having entered into marriage ing over Sophia of panikhidas and moliebens. The with the Russian prince Mikhail Izyaslavich, trans- Nun Sophia reposed to God in the year 1542. In ferred them to Kiev. 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